Apley Hall is said to be Blandings Castle

PG Wodehouse has a large & wide following, belonging to the Wodehouse Society. Some think that Apley Hall in the centre of www.apleyestate.com is Blandings Castle, the setting for the Wodehouse’s novels. Others think it’s nearby Weston Park or Upton Cressett.

I’ve just found on Wikipedia this entry (click HERE to read more) about identifying where PG Wodehouse set his Blandings novels: “In 2003, Dr Daryl Lloyd and Dr Ian Greatbatch (two researchers in the Department of Geography and Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London) made use of a Geographic Information System to analyse a set of geographical criteria, such as a viewshed analysis of The Wrekin & drive time from Shrewsbury. Their final conclusion was that Apley Hall in Stockton, Bridgnorth, Shropshire (Apley Hall of the Whitmore baronets) was the best suited location for fulfilling the geographical criteria.”

We’re obviously delighted with their conclusion, especially as my husband Gavin (Lord Hamilton, not Lord Emsworth !) did at one stage for a short time consider having pigs in Apley Walled Gardens again ! Perhaps at Apley Farm Shop we should develop a Wodehouse menu or a Wodehouse day !

Separately, but whilst researching, I found this fascinating photo of the Hermitage caves near Bridgnorth, which I’ve never seen before on Francis Frith’s website (click HERE to see more).